Passive diverter for an auxiliary spray device of a washing machine appliance

Abstract

A washing machine appliance includes a diverter assembly for selectively directing a flow of water to a primary dispenser and an auxiliary spray device. The diverter assembly includes a diverter body defining a diverter body defining a chamber inlet, a primary outlet in fluid communication with the primary dispenser, and an auxiliary outlet in fluid communication with the auxiliary spray device. A diverter valve moves between a first and second position based on a pressure differential relative to a diverter chamber. During standard operation, a spring urges the diverter valve to seal the auxiliary outlet and direct the flow to the primary dispenser. When a button is depressed to activate the auxiliary spray device, the pressure differential across the auxiliary outlet urges the diverter valve to a second position that seals the primary outlet and directs the flow to the auxiliary spray device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet including a top panel; 
 a wash tub positioned within the cabinet and defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing; 
 a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub; and 
 a diverter assembly configured for selectively directing a flow of water to a primary dispenser and an auxiliary spray device, the diverter assembly comprising:
 a diverter body defining a chamber inlet, a primary outlet in fluid communication with the primary dispenser, and an auxiliary outlet in fluid communication with the auxiliary spray device; 
 a diverter valve comprising a primary seal and an auxiliary seal positioned on a diverter shaft, wherein the diverter valve is movable between a first position where the auxiliary seal blocks the auxiliary outlet to direct the flow of water to the primary dispenser and a second position where the primary seal blocks the primary outlet to direct the flow of water to the auxiliary spray device; and 
 a spring element that urges the diverter valve to the first position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter shaft defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the diverter shaft translates along the longitudinal axis between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
       3. The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the primary seal and the auxiliary seal are resilient conical washers positioned on opposite ends of the diverter shaft. 
     
     
       4. The washing machine appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the diverter shaft extends through a diverter chamber between the auxiliary seal and the primary seal. 
     
     
       5. The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter assembly further comprises:
 a mixing manifold in fluid communication with a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet, the mixing manifold positioned upstream of the chamber inlet for mixing hot and cold water. 
 
     
     
       6. The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the diverter valve is moved from the first position to the second position by depressing a button positioned on the auxiliary spray device. 
     
     
       7. The washing machine appliance of  claim 6 , wherein depressing the button opens the auxiliary outlet to atmospheric pressure, generating a pressure differential across the auxiliary outlet sufficient to move the diverter valve to the second position. 
     
     
       8. The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the pressure differential is large enough to overcome the spring element that biases the diverter valve toward the first position. 
     
     
       9. The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary spray device is a handheld spray nozzle extending from the top panel. 
     
     
       10. The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein a flexible hose fluidly couples the auxiliary outlet to the auxiliary spray device. 
     
     
       11. The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible hose is operably coupled to a retraction mechanism for managing the flexible hose as auxiliary spray device is moved to and from a docking station in the top panel. 
     
     
       12. A diverter assembly for selectively directing a flow of fluid to a primary dispenser and an auxiliary spray device within a washing machine appliance, the diverter assembly comprising:
 a diverter body defining a chamber inlet, a primary outlet in fluid communication with the primary dispenser, and an auxiliary outlet in fluid communication with the auxiliary spray device; 
 a diverter valve comprising a primary seal and an auxiliary seal positioned on a diverter shaft, wherein the diverter valve is movable between a first position where the auxiliary seal blocks the auxiliary outlet to direct the flow of water to the primary dispenser and a second position where the primary seal blocks the primary outlet to direct the flow of water to the auxiliary spray device; and 
 a spring element that urges the diverter valve to the first position. 
 
     
     
       13. The diverter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the diverter shaft defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the diverter shaft translates along the longitudinal axis between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
       14. The diverter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the primary seal and the auxiliary seal are resilient conical washers positioned on opposite ends of the diverter shaft. 
     
     
       15. The diverter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the diverter assembly further comprises:
 a mixing manifold in fluid communication with a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet, the mixing manifold positioned upstream of the chamber inlet for mixing hot and cold water. 
 
     
     
       16. The diverter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the diverter valve is moved from the first position to the second position by depressing a button positioned on the auxiliary spray device. 
     
     
       17. The diverter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein depressing the button opens the auxiliary outlet to atmospheric pressure, generating a pressure differential across the auxiliary outlet sufficient to move the diverter valve to the second position. 
     
     
       18. The diverter assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the pressure differential is large enough to overcome the spring element that biases the diverter valve toward the first position. 
     
     
       19. A diverter assembly for selectively directing a flow of fluid to a primary dispenser and an auxiliary spray device within a washing machine appliance, the diverter assembly comprising:
 a diverter body defining a chamber inlet, a primary outlet in fluid communication with the primary dispenser, and an auxiliary outlet in fluid communication with the auxiliary spray device; and 
 a diverter valve comprising a primary seal and an auxiliary seal, the primary seal and the auxiliary seal being resilient conical washers positioned on opposite ends of a diverter shaft, wherein the diverter valve is movable between a first position where the auxiliary seal blocks the auxiliary outlet to direct the flow of water to the primary dispenser and a second position where the primary seal blocks the primary outlet to direct the flow of water to the auxiliary spray device. 
 
     
     
       20. The diverter assembly of  claim 19 , wherein diverter valve further comprises a spring element that urges the diverter valve to the first position.